<p>I hope it’s ok to jump in here. I obviously haven’t seen your essay, and it could be great, but also keep in mind the option of writing about something completely different (and maybe more about you) as your main essay, and writing about the illness in the “extended info” area. While it’s not a foolproof rule, I’ve always heard that it’s better to shy away from relative sickness/death essays, both because it’s a bit of a cliche, and because they tend to not say much about you personally. Good luck!</p>